Container



March 4, 1930.

G. P. VISSCH ER CONTAINER Filed Aug. 25, 1927 INVENTOR G. F. Visscher* M9@ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 19?@ UNIT aras arnr rica CONTANER Application filed August 23, 1827.

This invention relates to improvements in containers generally, and more particularly to the type of the same adapted for enclosing or packaging articles of personalwear, such as shoes, slippers and the like for shipment,

or other transportation.

Heretofore, when traveling, it has been the custom to either pack ones shoes, slippers or the like directly into a baggage carrier without wrapping, or to pack the same after wrapping these articles into bundles or packages with ordinary wrapping or other paper, or to pack them into comparatively expensive shoe bags or thelike. In any case, the proper packing of articles of this character has always been a source of trouble or worry, particularly when shoes or slippers have been thoroughly cleaned and polished for subsequent wear, andit is desired to keep the same in perfect condition and free from being rubbed or scratched during shipment or transportation; and, also, when it is necessary kto pack away yshoes or slippers which have been previously worn, and are in a soiled or dusty condition, whereby to prevent contact of the latter with other articles of personal wear, and the consequent soiling of such articles.

The principal object of the invention is,

therefore, to provide for an extremely, simple, convenient and inexpensive container, envelope or wrapper for easily and quickly enclosing articles of personal wear, such as shoes, slippers, etc., and which, after initial use, mayV be either re-used or discarded, thrown away or destroyed.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a container of the character mentioned, and one which is preferably adapted for the housing of shoes or slippers singly, and confining the same within a relatively small and compact package, and in amanner to' facilitate the packing of the same in the usual traveling bags, trunks and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as hereinbefore characterized, and one constructed of a comparatively flexible material, such as will readily lend itself to enclose a shoe or slipper into a neat, tightly wrapped and secure package, and which may Cl f Serial No. 214,962.

be folded when not in use, into flat form, either singly or in packages of two or more for use or sale.

W'ith the foregoing and other equally important objects in view, the invention resides in the certain new and useful construction and arrangement as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, the device being shown in its open position,

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same when in use and secured in closed position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of one end of the body or pocket, and showing the manner of joining the adjacent edge portions of the opposite side walls thereof together', and

Figure l is a vertical transverse section taken on the line t-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the container, as shown, comprises generally a non-rigid and collapsible body portion l0, preferably in the form of a pocket open at one side, and a flap portion l1 extending from one edge of the open side portion, and which is of a length to be folded over the open side of the body to close the opening, and to be engaged or encircled about the body in a manner to encompass the body in one or more convolutions thereof.

rlhis container, envelope or wrapper is preferably made from a single oblong blank 'or sheet of flexible material, such as paper or the like, and the body or pocket portion 10 is formed at one end of the blank or sheet by folding, intermediate portion, whereby to provide a front or upper wall portion 13, and a rear or bottom wall portion 14. The upper end of the flap 11 is continuous with the rear or bottom wall portion 14, and is preferably of length to pass around the open edge portion of the body or pocket l0, over the front or upper wall portion 13, around the folded edge portion l2, over the rear or'bottoin wall portion 14, and then into overlapping relation as at l2, one end portion over onto an with respect to the inner connected end portions of the flap. The opposite ends of the body or pocket 10 are closed by means of end walls 15 and 16, which are preferablyforrned by integral portions of the front wall 113, or the back wall 14, respectively. As shown, these end walls 15 and 16 are preferably formed by overlapping the infolded edge portions and securing them together in a suitable manner, as by being cemented or glued at their opposed surfaces. The flap 11 is preferably cut away on an oblique or diagonal line, as at 17, so that, when encircled about the body 10 with a shoe or slipper positioned within vthe latter, the tensioning effect of the encircling longer portion of the flap will be.

substantially at the transverse center of the body or pocket, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To secure the flap 11 about the body 410 when the container is in use, a tie cord or tape 18 is provided, and one end of the same is permanently attached to the free end of t-he flap. The attachedr end of the cord or tape 18 is preferably secured under a fastening 19, about which the free end ofthe cord or tape may be engaged to secure the flap 11 in its body or pocket closing position.V This fastening 19 is preferably in the form of a pronged but-ton or paper fastener, which has its prongs 19 passed through the flap end, and bent flat against the opposite or inner face thereof. The free end of the flap is, however, and preferably, folded about a reinforcing strip 20, and the prongs 19, ofthe fastening 19, are then engaged through the folded portions of the iap and the reinforcing strip 20, substantially as is shown in Figure 1.

In use, a single shoe or slipper a: will be positioned lengthwise within the body or pocket v10, preferably with the heel portion thereof disposed toward the end of the latter from which the oblique side of the same emanates, when the flap 11 will be folded over the open side of the body, then passed rearwardly across the front of top wall 13, then trained around the closed side edge of the body or pocket 10, and thence in a forward direction over the rear or bottom wall 14, and thence in an upward direction over and into overlapping relation with respect to that as a result of this construction and arrangement, the longer side of the flap will first encircle the body or pocket immediately inwardly of the toe portion of a shoe or slipper positioned within the body or pocket, while the free end portion of the same will be disposed substantiallyk in line with the transverse center thereof, in a manner so that the container will Vassume substantially the shape of the shoe or slipper, when in use.

l/Vithout further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the in` vention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, propon tion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is :V Y f A device of the class described compris` ing a deformable body open at one side, a freely flexible closure flap extended at one side edge of the opening of said body and adaptedto be wound about said body, said closure iiap being cut away'y at one; side and outwardly from the-body on a line extending diagonally with respect thereto, whereby the flap is of maximum length at one side of the transverse center ofthe body, a flexible securing` means for said flap and adapted to be encircled about the body and flap, and means carried by the free end of said flap' for attaching said securing means thereto, said last-mentioned means being adapted to se` cure the free end of said securing means after the saine has been encircled about the body and flap.

GERTRUDE P. VISSCHER.

the previously encircled portion of theV same,

in which position the free end of the flap will be disposed substantially at the center of the upper side of the body or pocket. The cord or tape 18 will now be encircled about ther package, in the same encircling direction of the flap 11, when its free end will be securely engaged under the button or head of the fastening 19. It is to be noted'that the absence of theoblique or diagonal cut away portion of the flap does not in any way interfere with a proper and complete closure of .thel open side of the body or pocket 1f), and 

